For the next few days, Xu Ning followed a three-point-line routine: in the morning, he dug manure to water the saplings, and in the afternoon, he cut grass to feed the Cottage.
Finally, after a few days, the corn was fully ripe.
However, Xu Ning had eaten several large corn cobs in between, so his harvest this time was not abundant, but it was enough to last him for a while.
Fortunately, because the saplings Xu Ning planted had recently grown quite large, they obscured the appearance of the corn, preventing other villagers from discovering the unusual growth of Xu Ning's corn.
After the harvest, Xu Ning conveniently picked a dozen or so corn seeds and planted them.
Arriving at the dozen or so planted saplings, Xu Ning couldn't help but ask, "When can you upgrade?"
"Master, five more buckets, just five more buckets and I can reach mortal-grade mid-rank."
The other saplings also responded simultaneously, all needing five buckets.
"What changes when you become mortal-grade mid-rank?" Xu Ning couldn't help but ask.
"Master, when we become mortal-grade mid-rank, our size will instantly increase significantly, and our wood quality will also improve considerably," the largest sapling quickly replied.
At this moment, the nearby manure bucket suddenly spoke, "Master, when the time comes, can you cut some for me to upgrade? Once I reach mortal-grade mid-rank, I can ferment manure, making its effect even better!"
Originally, Xu Ning was still debating whether to water the saplings or the corn first, but after hearing the manure bucket's words, he immediately made a decision: upgrade the manure bucket first.
For the next few days, Xu Ning continued his usual three-point-line routine: digging manure in the morning, watering, and then cutting grass.
Finally, after five days, the first sapling successfully upgraded to mortal-grade mid-rank.
Looking at the tree trunk, which was the size of a coconut, Xu Ning couldn't pretend not to be surprised; it was too fast, the growth was simply too rapid.
Without hesitation, Xu Ning picked up the cleaver and started chopping.
"Big Brother, can you consider my feelings? Hacking a mortal-grade mid-rank tree with a mortal-grade Low Grade cleaver, doesn't it hurt me?"
After only two chops, a painful sound came from inside the cleaver.
Xu Ning: "Then I can't help it! You know, I don't have an axe, so I'll just make do with you!"
Sapling: "By the way, doesn't anyone consider my feelings? I'm being chopped by a cleaver!"
Xu Ning: "Stop talking nonsense, you were born to be chopped into pieces! If you were seen by others, there would be big trouble!"
This was also Xu Ning's biggest concern at the moment; this sapling had grown so large in just over ten days since it was planted. If it were seen by others, there would definitely be big trouble.
So now, Xu Ning's only thought was to quickly chop it down before it was seen.
The cleaver also understood Xu Ning's meaning and stopped complaining, allowing Xu Ning to control its body to strike the tree repeatedly.
Ah ah ah ah ah~~
The sapling, meanwhile, kept letting out painful groans.
Xu Ning couldn't stand it anymore: "Can you stop making such disgusting noises!"
Sapling: "Big Brother, I hurt! Try chopping yourself with a cleaver!"
Xu Ning understood after hearing this and continued to speed up.
Although each chop was not deep, over time, the trunk was finally cut through, falling down with a "boom."
Immediately, Xu Ning picked up the manure bucket: "Try swallowing it!"
"Okay," the manure bucket's surprised voice immediately came.
Then, Xu Ning directly inserted the broken end into the manure bucket.
Suddenly, a magical scene appeared: the tree trunk entering the manure bucket began to disappear before Xu Ning's eyes.
Seeing this, Xu Ning quickly controlled the manure bucket to move forward, continuously devouring the tree trunk.
In just a moment, the entire large tree was completely devoured by the manure bucket, and it successfully advanced to a mortal-grade mid-rank manure bucket.
"How is it? What effects have improved?" Xu Ning eagerly asked the manure bucket.
"Fermentation for three hours, doubling the effect!" the manure bucket quickly replied.
Xu Ning was pleasantly surprised to hear this; doubling the effect meant that corn, which originally needed ten buckets to advance to mortal-grade mid-rank, now only needed five buckets.
Xu Ning couldn't help but ask again, "What's the effect of the next level?"
manure bucket: "If I advance to mortal-grade high-rank, not only will the fermented fertilizer's potency increase again, and the fermentation time shorten, but my weight will also be halved, even when full of manure, and I won't emit any smell."
"Then how many trees will it need?" This was actually what Xu Ning was most concerned about.
manure bucket: "Five trees will be enough!"
Xu Ning was surprised: "That many? These are mortal-grade mid-rank trees!"
manure bucket: "Although they are mortal-grade mid-rank, they are too small. If they were large enough to embrace, one would be enough!"
Large enough to embrace? Xu Ning wouldn't dare to grow them that big, fearing they would be seen by others.
Afterward, Xu Ning picked up the hoe again, dug out the tree roots, broke them apart, and carried them all back home.
"Xu Ning, these can be swallowed by me!" The manure bucket couldn't help but say anxiously.
Xu Ning: "Dream on, I'm taking these back to burn."
The firewood at home was running low recently, and these tree roots weren't really enough; he would have to go to the mountain to cut some more later.
However, it was difficult to cut wood on the mountain, as it had long been stripped bare by others, making it hard to find even a single intact piece.
There was no other way; even if he didn't cut them to burn, others would cut them to sell.
The manure bucket didn't say much more after hearing this.
By the time he brought the tree roots home, it was already dark.
Xu Ning then tirelessly carried the manure bucket to dig for manure.
There was no other way; the manure bucket needed to ferment now, so he had to dig the manure at night and bring it back, and after fermentation, take it to water the plants tomorrow.
Or, perhaps, he should raise a cow! That thing produces a lot; if he raised two, they could produce almost a bucket a day.
However, Xu Ning could only dream about it, as he currently had no money to buy a cow.
Currently in the village, households with cows were considered wealthy.
After digging for manure and returning, Xu Ning was exhausted. He hastily ate a bowl of corn rice and immediately lay down on the bed.
"Xu Ning, can't you be gentler? You're hurting me!" From beneath, the bed's dissatisfied voice entered Xu Ning's ears.
Xu Ning weakly said, "Weren't you born to be laid upon!"
After speaking, Xu Ning unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Xu Ning began his arduous life again, carrying the manure bucket to water the corn.
As for the saplings, it wasn't time to water them yet. Firstly, the previously harvested corn was almost eaten, so the second batch needed to be planted quickly.
Secondly, of course, he was afraid of others seeing the growth rate of those saplings!
Xu Ning had already decided that when watering the saplings later, he would come at night to water the last bucket when they were close to maturity, then immediately chop them down, and finally dig out even the roots, to avoid attracting attention.
In the blink of an eye, over ten days passed, and the Cottage, under Xu Ning's daily grass cutting and feeding, finally reached mortal-grade mid-rank.
Xu Ning immediately asked impatiently, "Cottage, what improvements have there been?"
Xu Ning was still very much looking forward to the Cottage's upgrade.